Chapter Four
Poor World, what wilt thou do
To entertain this starry stranger?
Richard Crashaw
Not a sound whispered through the park as Usagi examined the figure before her. "It's you," she said again, amazed that she had a voice. Silver light danced on his features and caused an unexpected image to flash through her mind. She saw herself looking at his handsome face underneath a shimmering orb in the sky. Only, the light wasn't silver, it was a dazzling combination of blue and green…
Usagi snapped back to reality, feeling blood pounding in her temples. What was that? She didn't understand what was happening. She needed to leave and give herself a chance to sort through all her crazy thoughts, but she couldn't seem to look away from those scintillating green eyes…
Her heart skipped a beat when his voice unexpectedly slid through the silence. "You know me, Usagi?"
"I must," she whispered, "for you know my name."
A ghost of a smile appeared on his lips. "But do you know mine?" Usagi floundered for a moment. Did she? She closed her eyes and was presented with another image of him flashing a brilliant smile. Yes…the name started with a K. Kenrick, but that wasn't completely right. She had always called him…
"Averill," she said confidently, opening her eyes. "Your name is Averill."
He was clearly impressed. "Yes," he agreed. Usagi grinned at him, but her smile froze and her heart leapt into her throat.
Oh God… what is happening? How can I know his name when I've never spoken to him?
"I'm sorry," he said quickly, sensing her discomfort. "I'll leave now." He stood and started away, and immediately Usagi felt a sinking in her stomach, a peculiar feeling of loss. Without thinking, she leapt up and hurried after him.
"No, wait!" she cried and grabbed his hand. The feeling of his skin on hers sent an unexpected tingle up her arm. She dropped it like it had scaled her, and took a defensive step back, bristling like a frightened kitten. But when he turned towards her, she whispered, "Please don't go."
Averill faced her fully. Some inner instinct was telling her to run, but she refused to listen and straightened her spine as he came towards her. When he ended up only inches away, so close that she could feel his breath, she simply looked him in the eyes, unmoving.
He's going to kiss me, she thought suddenly as he gazed at her. Her breathing quickened. Step away, her mind urged, but she realized with a start that she wanted him to kiss her.
Mamo-chan, the voice tried again, but at that moment, Usagi didn't care. All she could think about was the beautiful blonde looming over her with green fire in his eyes.
But Averill didn't kiss her. Instead, he spoke. "It's late. You should be home. There are dangerous people about."
Is that a threat? she wondered, heart picking up speed.
"I'm not afraid," she said, and something like respect formed in his eyes.
"Anyway," he relented, taking a step back, "it doesn't matter whether you're afraid or not. Things can happen that you have no control over."
"What kind of things?" she demanded, and when he didn't answer, "Who are you? I know your name is Averill, but who are you really, and why do I know your name, and why have I seen your face in my dreams, and why…" she broke off when she realized she was babbling and smiled faintly. "Who are you?" she repeated and left it at that.
Averill cast a nervous glance around. "Later, we'll talk," he assured her, "and I will answer all your questions. But now, both of us are tired." Usagi wasn't tired, and had the feeling he wasn't either, but she nodded in agreement. She needed time to step back from her revelations and work them out before speaking with him again, and was grateful that he shared her state of mind.
"When can I see you again?" she asked, trying not to sound too hopeful. Averill paused before answering.
"How about here. Tomorrow at twilight?"
"Afraid of the sun?" Usagi asked lightly, intending for it to be a joke, but he wasn't smiling.
"No, but there will be less people around." That alarmed her. She didn't know who he was… a psychotic killer for all she knew… and he wanted to meet her at night when nobody was around? Her mind told her there should be people, just in case, and yet she murmured an agreement before hurrying away.
Feeling a stab of guilt for leaving so abruptly, Usagi spun around and prepared to bid him goodnight, but was presented with only the night. Alarmed, she frantically turned her head to locate him, but he was gone. Almost as if he had never been there at all.
0 0 0
Bauxite materialized in the hideout with a smirk. Boss was sure to be pleased with his job the previous night, and he couldn't wait for the praise. He felt it was time someone recognized his contributions to the group, and was glad for the chance to show the others what a real general could do for the Darkness. When he'd returned the previous night, he had been confronted by Axinite, who took the girl's ball of life energy and informed him that Boss wouldn't see anyone that night. Bauxite hadn't minded: he was ready for a well-deserved rest after the high of conflict.
Now, he was marching down the hall towards the meeting Boss had called, his footsteps echoing in the silence. Halfway there, a violet haze shimmered before his eyes and Calcite appeared. Bauxite supposed she was there to congratulate him, but a sarcastic smile was upon her lips, bright with crimson lipstick.
"You're going to get it," she said musically.
"A promotion?" Bauxite smiled. "I know."
Calcite's grin widened and her golden eyes gleamed in the semi-darkness. "Come on. We'll be late," she said abruptly, whirling around without a word of praise. Bauxite grinned at the sight of her turned back and red hair swaying from side to side.
"I see. So that's how it is. You're jealous."
"Jealous!" Calcite cried, swirling around to give him an incredulous look. "Don't be fatuous. Why would I be jealous of a failure?"
"Failure?" Bauxite demanded, his pride nicked. "Perhaps you missed my flawless performance last night."
"Oh, I saw it," Calcite said and let out a lilting giggle before she turned. "Come," she said again when she had calmed. "He is waiting." Bauxite smiled and followed her without another word. He was glad he would have an audience when Boss complimented him. Maybe his performance would inspire the others to shape up and stop acting like the worthless lumps of flesh they were.
Bauxite and Calcite paused before an iron doorway and waited for Boss's thunderous roar, "Come in." When the door creaked open, Bauxite strode confidently towards Boss while Calcite took her spot in line beside the other generals. Bauxite lowered to one knee before his superior and bowed his head.
"You may rise," Boss said coolly. Bauxite rose with a grin and was stunned when Boss's hand shot out and slapped him across the face. Boss's fingers, heavily jeweled with rings, left a deep cut across Bauxite's left cheek, and he raised a hand to the blood in disbelief.
"Pardon me, master, but what was that for?"
"For being an idiot." Boss turned and stalked away, cape swirling around him. When he faced the shaken brown-eyed general again, his eyes were fierce. "Would you dare explain what happened last night?"
Bauxite's throat was dry and he swallowed several times in an attempt to moisten it. "I did everything you asked of me, sir."
"Yes," Boss granted, "but could you explain what happened with the princess?" Bauxite's breath caught: was that what he was upset about?
"I'm sorry, Boss. I know you didn't directly order me to poison the girl. I acted irrationally. I know the plan was to do it later under controlled circumstances, and I apologize for the inconvenience. What I did was stupid." He bowed his head in shame.
"No," Boss corrected. "What you did was brilliant." Bauxite snapped his head up in surprise and looked at Boss uncertainly as he continued. "You took care of the problem without us having to plan a way to do it. I congratulate you."
"Then… you're not upset?"
"Of course I am. I'm mad as hell."
"What did I do?" Bauxite asked meekly, wishing he had a hole to crawl into.
"Think, Bauxite, dear, think really hard," Calcite's sweet voice taunted and Bauxite glared at her. She gave him a bright smile and he noticed that the others were doing the same. Except Kyanite, but that was no surprise, for the boy rarely showed emotion of any kind.
"I… I don't know," he said, turning to Boss with a plead for mercy in his eyes.
"You almost killed her!" Boss spilled in an angry roar. "You knew the girl is vital to our plan, yet you deliberately ordered Carmenia to destroy her! If that Tuxedo Kamen hadn't thrown that protective shield around her, she would have died! You know that!"
"I… I was just trying to… frighten her," Bauxite explained, stumbling for words.
"Oh, I see," Boss sneered. "You wanted to frighten her. Frighten her to death!" Bauxite lowered his eyes. This wasn't good.
"And before that, you nearly sliced her in half to inject the poison! We have no idea whether or not she's okay. You know she needs to be in prime condition."
"I apologize, master, for my mistake. I know that I must die for it," Bauxite said quietly. There was a short gasp from Calcite, who wanted him beaten to a bloody pulp, not dead, but Boss was already shaking his head. He sighed and rubbed his temples.
"There's no need to be dramatic. You could still be useful. But you have made me rethink my decision of making you leader. Azurite?" A tall man, very handsome and knowing it, with long black hair and impossibly blue eyes, stepped forward.
"Yes, Boss?"
"You will lead the operation," Boss said, keeping his dark eyes on Bauxite, delicious pleasure in his eyes. Bauxite's shoulders slumped. This was the worst punishment Boss could have given him, because he struck where it hurt the most - his pride.
Azurite's perfect mouth curved into a grin. "I shall be happy to serve you," he said gallantly. "I won't fail." Boss nodded grimly before turning to glare at the shamed general, who by this time was feeling like the lowest being in the universe.
"We refuse to follow that vain peacock!" a voice unexpectedly broke through the silence, and another man stepped forward, this one with shoulder-length strawberry blond hair and cool grey eyes. "Alexandrite and I won't do it," Axinite continued, gesturing to his twin brother, who was nodding vigorously.
"Give me a chance! I would serve you better than anyone!" Calcite pleaded. "I'll prove myself worthy!" Boss sighed at the disruption and turned towards the one person who hadn't spoken.
"Kyanite?" he demanded, ready for another plea, but the violet-eyed general shrugged and tossed his head to shake white-blonde hair from his vision.
"I don't care," he said. "You're the Boss." Boss narrowed his eyes, but Kyanite stared back without flinching.
"You are treading in dangerous waters. You know the reason I don't lose my temper and have you eliminated, don't you, my boy?"
"No, actually, I don't. Enlighten me," Kyanite suggested, his eyes a violet block of ice.
"Just that a certain… part of me won't allow me to do what I should have done ages ago." Boss turned his head to the other generals and nodded.
"There will be no leader for now. I want all of you to interact with the humans and see what you can learn about the senshi. Any information you gather will be useful towards our cause. If you get the chance, take some energy, but be discreet. Don't drain them like Bauxite did." Bauxite didn't think he'd ever been more humiliated.
"And," Boss continued, "if any of you proves worthy, I'll consider making you leader."
"How will we discover the identities of the senshi, Eternal Sailormoon in particular?" Alexandrite asked, his grey eyes inquisitive.
"Don't worry about them. They will fall into our hands at the right moment," Boss said and smiled.
0 00
An hour later, Bauxite was still lying on the cold stone floor, shaking his head in misery. The room had cleared since the meeting, for everyone had been eager to start mingling with the humans and prove their worth, but Bauxite had no desire to go back. Calcite had been right. He was a failure.
"You're pathetic," a voice cut through his miserable solitude. Bauxite stiffened and opened his eyes. Calcite stood over him, arms folded and frowning. Bauxite sat up and glanced at her warily, not sure if she was there to scold him or be his friend.
Scold him, apparently. "Get up," she commanded, tapping her foot impatiently. "Boss ordered us to find out what we can, not lie here like miserable SOBs who have nothing better to do with their lives. Boss said that the best will be chosen leader; he didn't exclude you."
"But I have nothing to offer. I had my chance and blew it. Boss will never let me be leader now."
"Is that all that matters to you?" Calcite asked, her eyes flashing annoyance. "Being leader? What about our ultimate goal? The others? What about… what about me?" Bauxite glanced at her before returning his gaze to the floor.
"You know how I feel about you, Calcite. Why are you asking for reassurance?"
She shrugged. "Well, I can't bring myself to feel anything for you while you're like this. I like strong men, like Jevan. Jadeite was the most powerful man I knew…" She sighed and her eyes softened in memory. Bauxite waited until gaze hardened and she glared at him. "I can't tolerate weak souls."
Bauxite swallowed. "Please, Calcite," he pleaded. "I love you. Let me prove to you…"
"Prove what?" she demanded and laughed. "I've heard enough. Get up and make yourself useful before Boss destroys you for laziness." And with that she left, her laughter echoing behind her. Bauxite clenched his fists and pounded them against the stone floor. So Calcite liked strong men? Well, he could be strong. He would prove himself worthy of her.
With quiet determination and a steady half-smile, Bauxite stood.
0 0 0
"Usagi-chan, what do you think of this one?" Naru asked, holding a silvery-blue dress up to herself and twirling.
"Fine," Usagi said and Naru frowned. That was the same answer her friend had given to the last six she had shown off.
"And this one?" Naru asked suspiciously, holding up the strapless yellow dress she held in her other arm.
"Fine," Usagi repeated, and Naru saw that she wasn't looking at the dress. Her eyes were unfocused and staring somewhere past Naru's right shoulder. Naru turned but saw nothing particularly interesting that might be entrancing her friend.
"What about this?" she asked and randomly grabbed a navy blue dress with spaghetti straps off the rack.
"Fine."
"Should I wear it with a matching bow or french-braid my hair?"
"Fine." Naru grimaced and waved her hand in front of Usagi's unfocused eyes.
"How many fingers am I holding up?"
"Fine."
"Incorrect. How about I shoot you in the head?" Naru asked calmly.
"Fine."
"And tell Mamoru-san you're cheating on him?"
"Fine," Usagi said blandly, but then blinked and quickly turned, blushing madly, to gape at Naru. "Huh?" she asked in horror as her friend burst into laughter.
"I knew that would rouse you. Why the guilty look, Usagi-chan? Is there a new man in your life that I don't know about?" she asked cheerfully.
"You're supposed to be my friend," the blond girl accused grumpily.
"And you're supposed to be helping me shop for a dress," Naru shot back. "What is wrong with you? You usually love this kind of thing, but you've been in another dimension all afternoon."
"I have not! I'm fine!" Usagi cried, and the word 'fine' sent Naru into another fit of giggles.
"Come on, Usagi-chan. I haven't known you for years for nothing. Something's on your mind besides a new dress for me. What is it?"
"Nothing," Usagi replied and her eyes returned to that faraway look. Naru snapped her fingers to bring Usagi back to reality.
"Please, Usagi-chan. I know you've had a big secret for years. You can trust me. I just want to help." That made Usagi smile, and she wondered how Naru would react if she found out her friend wasn't so normal after all.
"What kind of a secret would I have?" Usagi asked with a grin, hoping she was displaying how ridiculous the idea was. "I'm terrible with secrets. You remember how in middle school I told everyone that you…"
"Okay, okay…" Naru cut in. "I remember. And I still haven't forgiven you."
"Yes you have," Usagi chirped. "You love me." Naru smiled at that.
"Sure, enough to know that secrets or not, something is wrong."
"I didn't sleep well last night, and now I'm tired," Usagi said, as close to the truth as she dared. It was true she hadn't slept the previous night… not because she was ill, but because she couldn't stop thinking about Averill.
"Okay," Naru said, and after giving Usagi a searching look, she turned back to the dress rack. Usagi felt a wave of relief.
"What about this one?" Naru held up a short, dark purple, velvet dress.
"Fine," Usagi replied and laughed when Naru jokingly groaned. Finally, Naru turned back to the rack and started fingering a short red dress with an absent look of her own.
"How would this look on me?" she asked breathlessly, and without waiting for an answer, added, "Have I ever told you about my cousin, Christine?" Usagi looked at her, wondering why the sudden change in topic, and cocked her head to the side in thought.
"Not that I remember. Why?"
Naru turned to face her, eyes serious. "She's coming to live with my family."
"Really? That's fantastic! But why don't you look happy?"
"I am. I haven't seen her since we were little. It's just… she's a very bad girl, apparently," Naru explained, raising her eyebrows. Usagi frowned.
"Bad how?"
"Oh, I don't know," Naru said and sighed. "Bad enough for her parents to send her here from France."
"France! You have family in France? You don't look French to me," Usagi burst, staring at her friend with new interest.
"Of course I'm not. But Christine is half. My aunt Mizami, my mother's sister, fell in love with a Frenchman when he came to Tokyo to found a Catholic school. They moved to France together and had Christine. End of story."
"But why would they send her here?" Usagi asked, feeling that some part of the story was missing.
"Discipline. Uncle Guillame wrote that she needs it badly. She is going to attend the school he founded, St. Peter's Academy. I guess she's pretty wild." Naru paused and looked thoughtful. "It's not that I'm unhappy. I'm just afraid she won't like me."
"Who wouldn't like you?"
"Well, I don't have any idea what she…" Naru suddenly broke off as Usagi grabbed her arm. "What?"
Her friend's face had turned white. "Wait for me," she whispered and ran towards the door.
"Usagi-chan!" Naru called and then sighed, shaking her head. "Why do you always do that, huh?" she demanded to the empty air around her.
0 0 0
Outside, Usagi raced through the streets, her heart pounding. Something was wrong: she could feel it in her blood, a ripple of fear traveling through her veins, and she didn't like the premonition. In the store, it had suddenly overtaken her as if someone had dunked her into a freezing stream, or flashed neon lights reading 'Evil.'
Something was out there and she was going to find it.
Not once did the thought occur to her that even if she did find what was wrong, she was powerless. It was pure instinct and habit that made her run through the streets, unaware of the whispering spectators. As she turned a final corner, she found what she was looking for.
In the middle of the street, Bauxite stood laughing. Usagi gaped at him, open-mouthed, and it took her a moment to register the stream of bodies lying at his feet and the countless others standing around, watching as if hypnotized. Usagi gasped as more kept appearing, walking in a smooth unnatural fashion, none of them fully conscious.
The fool! she thought. Only an idiot would attack like this in the middle of the day. He must be mad! She clenched her fists. He needs a lesson, she thought with a grimace. The bastard's asking for it.
Raising her hand high into the sky, she shouted, "Moon Eternal Makeup!"
Nothing.
Usagi trembled in shock. She knew she had lost her powers, but had never believed that she would be completely helpless against something like this. She would have stood there forever gaping at Bauxite's laughing figure if Naru hadn't come up behind her and grabbed her arm.
"Usagi-chan, what are you doing? Let's get out of here!" Naru screamed, for Bauxite's laughter and the moans of the zombie-like civilians around him amounted to the roar of a hurricane. Usagi shook her head in disbelief, but allowed Naru to pull her away.
But suddenly the booming laughter ceased, and a new sound filled the streets.
"Hold it!" a girl's voice bellowed. "Sailormercury is here!"
"And Sailormars!" another cried. "You'd leave if you knew what was best for you."
"Sailorvenus! I demand you let these people go!"
"Sailorjupitor! You're asking for it and I'm going to give it to you!"
Naru stopped running and tugged on Usagi's sleeve, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "They're here! But where's Sailormoon? Coming, I suppose."
"Somehow I doubt it," Usagi muttered, clutching Naru's arm. For the first time she was going to be a first row spectator instead of the star. She didn't like the idea.
Bauxite wasn't phased by the crowd of colorful girls. In fact, he smiled in welcome. "Here at last," he announced like a lover who'd been kept waiting. "I am prepared to crush you, and I don't believe you have the power to stop me."
"Wanna bet?" Venus demanded and stepped forward. "Venus Love Me Chain!" A chain of hearts shot from her, but Bauxite needed only to hold up his hand for the chain to dissolve. Venus stepped back with a gasp.
"You see?" Bauxite said triumphantly. "Without Sailormoon, you girls are nothing!" With that, he let out another cackle and a bolt of dark energy shot around, causing several more people to collapse.
"What does he mean?" Naru whispered urgently. "Usagi-chan, what does he mean without Sailormoon?" Usagi looked at her helplessly.
"Amusing as this is, I don't have the time to deal with you. Carmenia?" he called and the ugly youma materialized next to him. Bauxite smiled. "You know what to do." Carmenia raised her hand with a giggle and daggers appeared in her palm. Usagi gasped, remembering what those daggers had done to her, but quickly realized her worrying was for nothing.
"Shabon Spray Freezing!" Mercury yelled and the daggers froze in mid-air before crashing to the ground and shattering. Carmenia shrieked and started again, but before the daggers left her palms, Mars blasted her with Fire Sniper and Carmenia's body erupted into flames as she melted away.
The senshi congratulated one another on the victory, but Bauxite wasn't impressed. He looked at Carmenia's puddle without emotion and shrugged. "No loss. If you think that was easy, you are correct. However, the real threat is me."
"You?" Jupiter snorted. "I'm not worried."
"Well, you should be," Bauxite replied pleasantly.
"I don't think so. Jupiter Oak Revolution!" As before, Bauxite had only to lift his hand and Jupiter's leaves stopped swirling toward him and fluttered harmlessly to the ground. This time, he added an extra surprise. He shot his dark energy towards her and she was flung back through a nearby store window with a sickening crash.
"Jupiter!" the senshi cried, and Usagi started struggling, but Naru's grip was surprisingly strong.
"See?" Bauxite said, beaming. "I warned you. I'm stronger than ever. Not only do I have my power, I have the strength of all these people around me." With that, he gestured to the motionless victims around him with a cruel laugh.
"You're evil," Mercury said, shaking with fury.
Bauxite smiled. "I know," he agreed and sent her flying backwards to where she crashed against a tree, unconscious. Mars and Venus looked at each other.
"Teamwork?" Venus suggested and Mars nodded. Together, the girls turned to Bauxite.
"Mars Firestorm Flash!" Mars called just as Venus yelled, "Crescent Beam Shower!" The two attacks intertwined and shot towards Bauxite. He put his hands up to stop them, but they kept coming and swirled around him in angry flashes of red and gold. The flames surrounded him until the shape of his body was revealed underneath. For a moment there was silence, and then a loud explosion as pieces of the attack were shot at Mars and Venus, tossing them backwards, screaming.
"No!" Usagi yelled, and beside her Naru was pale. Bauxite laughed at the fallen senshi, pleasure in his eyes.
"I am invincible," he told them. "The strongest man alive!" With that, his smile wavered, but it came back full force when he noticed Usagi and Naru.
"Missed two," he murmured to himself and stretched a hand. Naru screamed and clutched Usagi's shirt, but Usagi glared at Bauxite with hatred and refused to show any fear. Just when she was sure he was going to blast them, his hand quivered and lowered. He stared at the girls thoughtfully, Usagi in particular. She felt a sinking in her stomach as his eyes widened.
"You…" he started but trailed off when a voice behind him shouted, "World Shaking!" Caught off guard, Bauxite fell to the ground, revealing a triumphant Sailoruranus behind him. Her smile dimmed when she saw Usagi, obviously not understanding why she wasn't fighting. But there was no time for an explanation, for Bauxite rose and glared at Uranus.
"That was uncalled for," he grumbled, rubbing his dirt-stained cheek. He prepared to hit her with his dark energy, but before it reached her, Sailorsaturn showed up and protected her with Silent Wall. Bauxite glared at the new arrival and frowned even more when Sailorneptune and Sailorpluto stepped forward. The four surrounded him, but instead of feeling threatened, he smirked.
"Well, I see you're anxious for punishment as well." In response, Neptune and Uranus simultaneously blasted him with Space Sword Blaster and Deep Submerge. Bauxite's mouth drooped open and he wavered a bit before collapsing to the ground. As he hit, slow energy waves floated away from him and reached the civilians lying on the ground, including the Inner Senshi, who stirred and sat up.
"I say we get him," Jupitor muttered sleepily and stretched. The others nodded in agreement and stood, stalking angrily towards him. By this time, Bauxite was stirring, and he paled considerably when he saw the crowd of angry adolescents heading his way.
"Now, now…" he started uneasily, but they were not in forgiving moods and raised their hands, each hitting him with their most powerful attacks. Bauxite screamed… literally, with the decibels of a first grade schoolgirl… and slowly faded away with a bright flash of light.
Mars wiped beads of sweat from her forehead and glanced around at the strained faces of her friends. "Do you think we got him?" she panted.
Pluto frowned. "I hope so."
0 0 0
Bauxite materialized in the great hall and was able to take two steps before he collapsed. His body was burnt and he had not the strength to stand or even crawl for help. "No," he whispered with what little energy he had, not willing to believe that he had been on top one moment and so easily beaten the next.
He heard footsteps and lifted his head to look into Boss's dark face, half-concealed with a long cloak. "Master," he moaned. "I… they…"
"Shh," Boss said in a low voice, softer than Bauxite expected. He blinked rapidly.
"Master, they…"
"Yes?"
"What is going on?" another voice demanded, lighter and female. Bauxite's heart leapt when he recognized the sound. He groaned and forced himself to roll onto his back to see her. His last moments were imminent - he could feel life leaving his body, and he dared not waste time. He needed to see her.
Her golden eyes widened in shock. "Bauxite?" she demanded. "What happened?" Bauxite smiled at her, feeling peace and happiness creep into his body. He was so content watching her beautiful face, that he scarcely noticed the others entering the room, their own faces pale and drawn.
Calcite sank to her knees and took his hand.
"Get up," she ordered, meaning to sound commanding, but her voice shook. "Don't be like this. You have to be strong. Please, Brey."
"I can't," he told her calmly. "I'm dying." It sounded so strange to his ears, saying said it aloud. "Just promise me…"
"Yes?"
"Promise me you'll be careful. Take your time to crush them completely. I made the mistake of underestimating them in my haste to impress you. Don't do the same." He looked at the others to include them in his statement. "Even without Sailormoon they are strong. More than I expected…"
"Brey…" Calcite whispered and tears sprung to her eyes. "Don't. Please. You'll be fine, you always have been. Please."
"No." Bauxite shook his head, "I just wish that you…" He trailed off and his eyes closed. Calcite cried out and her hand flew to his cheek, shaking him gently for signs of life.
"No," she whispered. "Don't, Brey. Please. I love you." But her words were seconds too late for the man to hear. The words he had patiently waited for all his life, and he was too far gone to know that she had felt the same all along. Calcite bowed her head and red locks of hair fell into her eyes as her body shook with silent sobs.
The room was quiet, and even Axinite and Alexandrite were clutching each other and sniffling. Finally, Calcite let out a loud wail and cursed.
"I swear Bauxite, I'll make them pay for what they did to you. I won't rest until I have each of their heads in a pretty little row. I promise I'll avenge you!" She started sobbing over his body, but Boss silenced her by knocking his cane against the stone floor near her head. Calcite jerked and sat up, but her eyes wouldn't stop streaming tears and the redness wouldn't lessen.
"What Bauxite did was stupid," Boss told her coldly and Calcite bowed her head silently. "He deserved his fate; you know he did. I hope I make it clear that no one shall attempt such a farce in the future, or I won't let the senshi take care of you - I'll take the liberty, and dare I say pleasure, of destroying you myself. Do you understand?"
His voice was quiet, but no one could mistake the cold fury beneath his even tone. Heads bobbed agreement.
"Good. I want you to be discreet from now on. Attack only civilians who are alone, and make certain they don't know what has happened when it's over. We don't want to take any chances until our plan is ready, do we?"
More hesitant nods.
"Excellent. Let Bauxite be a lesson to each of you to never underestimate the Enemy. And if you do…" he gestured to Bauxite's sad form and left it at that. Calcite let out another sob and Boss looked at her, not with pity, but contempt.
"And Sailormoon? What will we do about her?" Axinite asked quietly.
Boss smiled. "Leave her alone. She will fall into our hands at the right moment."
0 0 0
"Yes!" Naru said, raising her fists toward the skies in triumph. "They did it! I had no doubts." Usagi refrained from reminding her that only minutes before, she had looked very doubtful and frightened.
The senshi had been congratulating one another and didn't notice the two girls standing on the sidelines until Venus turned her head and stared. She motioned for the others to look and they turned in disbelief to see their leader there. Usagi felt a heavy pit form in her stomach.
Naru laughed.
"Usagi-chan, they're looking at us! Hi!" she cried and started waving madly. The Inner Senshi nodded to her once, before hurrying away together and leaving the Outers to help the crowds of confused people who were regaining consciousness.
"That was amazing, wasn't it?" Naru said and turned towards Usagi, but the girl was looking off in the direction of the setting sun. "Usagi-chan?" Naru repeated with a sigh, sensing that her friend's strange mood had returned. Usagi looked at her, the expression in her eyes unreadable.
""I have to go," she whispered and started to run.
"But Usagi-chan! Wait!"
"I'll see you later!" the blond cried before racing off. Naru sighed and shrugged. Whatever had gotten into her, she obviously wasn't going to reveal. And that was fine with Naru. She just wished Usagi wouldn't be so mysterious all the time
"Hey, Naru-chan!" a voice called and Naru turned to see Ami, Minako, Rei and Makoto hurrying towards her.
"Hi," she said and forced a smile. "Did you catch the battle?"
"No," Ami said, shaking her head. "We just arrived. What happened?"
"Wasn't Usagi-chan with you?" Rei demanded, without giving her a chance to respond. Naru looked at them suspiciously. How would they know if they hadn't been nearby to see?
"She was," Naru replied, shaking her head in confusion, "but she just ran off." The new arrivals exchanged glances.
"Well, if you see her, tell her we need to speak with her," Rei said and Naru nodded.
"Sure," she agreed, feeling confused, but bid them farewell as they turned to leave. Something was amiss, but she couldn't put the pieces together. Naru shrugged. It didn't matter. She had more important problems, like dear, naughty little cousin, Christine, coming into her life.
0 0 0
Just as twilight fell, Usagi reached the park and plopped on the bench in exhaustion. She had run the entire way, but Averill hadn't arrived yet, so she stared at the lake and let her mind wander. She wondered why Tuxedo Kamen hadn't shown up at the fight. What was with Mamoru lately? Why was he always disappearing when she needed him?
And who was that girl she kept seeing him with?
Usagi was sure he wasn't having an affair. Well, 96 sure, anyway. He still cared about her; he'd proved that when she'd gotten hurt and he'd nearly had a stroke. But if not that, what was going on?
She felt nauseous, not from Mamoru, but from thoughts of the afternoon's battle. Her friends had handled it perfectly. Maybe they didn't need her anymore. She knew inside that this wasn't true, but some uneasiness lingered, disrupting her normal course of thoughts.
Usagi suddenly felt that she was being watched and looked up to see Averill standing a few feet away. Again, her breath caught when she saw him. He was truly beautiful in the night.
"Good evening," he said softly. Usagi cleared her throat.
"How long were you standing there?"
"Not long," he replied as he took a seat, but Usagi felt that he was lying. An uncomfortable silence came between the two. Usagi had so many questions, but she couldn't form the words.
"What were you thinking about?" Averill asked.
"Huh? Oh." Usagi wasn't sure what to say, but finally decided on the truth. "My boyfriend," she answered, watching him carefully for a reaction.
"Boyfriend," Averill repeated. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking or even feeling. ""Of course you have a boyfriend," he said just as blandly. Usagi squirmed a little. This was such an awkward situation…
And unfortunately, it got even stranger. A flash of blue light came before them and a tall man with long dark hair and intensely bright blue eyes appeared, chuckling in a deep baritone.
"Ah, this is a night for lovers," he said in an amused voice. "Sorry to interrupt the party, but this won't take long." He grabbed Usagi's arm and she gasped as he pulled her towards him. He grinned at her and she noticed that he was wearing the same sort of outfit as Bauxite. Her heart beat faster when the man's expression abruptly changed.
"Princess Serenity?" he said in awe and Usagi looked at him, frozen in shock. He looked as if he was about to say something else, but Averill shot forward and punched him in the stomach. The man's mouth opened in surprise and he dropped Usagi, bending over to clutch the wounded area.
Averill pulled Usagi to him protectively, and even though he was essentially a stranger, she didn't mind the gesture. The man looked up with a snarl, but when he saw the two of them together, his look changed to one of submission. His eyes widened and he dropped humbly to his knees.
"Forgive me, Your Highness," he whispered, and proceeded to fade out. Averill's grip around Usagi's shoulders tightened until the man disappeared completely, and then he moved away from her, folding his arms.
"Azurite," he said softly, shaking his head. Usagi studied his back, and sat next to him when he sank wearily onto the bench.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "That shouldn't have happened." Usagi said nothing. He had obviously known that man, and the man had known him. Averill wouldn't look at her and stared at the lake with a strange expression on his face. Usagi wondered what he was thinking, and took a deep breath.
"Who is he?" Somehow, this boy had connections with Bauxite, Azurite and whoever else was working against her. She didn't want to think that he was involved, but didn't know what else could explain Azurite knowing him.
"Azurite…" Averill repeated and shook his head. "Azurite is the former protector of Prince Kenrick, heir to the Earth throne about, oh, ten millennia back. He used to be an okay guy – a little vain, but nothing unusual - until he was corrupted by the Evil One, just like the prince's five other protectors."
"Evil One?" Usagi echoed, but Averill refused to comment further. She stared at him, at his face concealed by shadows. Forget the Evil One. There was only one person she wanted to know about.
"Who are you?" she asked bluntly, deciding to go with the direct approach.
Averill seemed to find the question funny. "Who am I?" he repeated with a short laugh. "Good question. I'm not so sure you'll want the answer. How about I tell you about yourself?"
"I didn't ask about myself. I asked about you," Usagi said crossly. "Besides, what could you possibly know about me? You only know my name, and with a little asking around you'd easily come up with that."
"Oh, I know many of your names, but not from asking around." Averill smiled, causing Usagi to shiver. "Tsukino Usagi. Serena. Princess Serenity," he listed and Usagi felt the chill deepen as he looked at her and paused before finishing. "Sailormoon. I could name the different versions of Sailormoon, too, but I don't have to. I think I've convinced you that I know more than you thought."
Usagi was so shocked that she couldn't think of a way to deny his claims. Instead, she tried to find fault in what he said. "My name was never Serena. You must be mistaking me for someone else," she protested weakly.
"Of course your name was Serena. In the Silver Millennium, your title was Princess Serenity, but your name was Serena. Don't you remember?" Usagi was getting upset. How could this stranger know more about her than she knew about herself? Impossible, of course, which meant he had to be lying.
"How would you know that?" she demanded. Averill smiled again, though the smile was slightly strained.
"Because I was there."
Of course, Usagi thought before she could stop herself. That's the recognition I felt.
"You're not going to deny it?" Averill asked, slightly surprised.
"Would it do any good?" she asked and he shook his head with a grin. "So you knew me?" she asked, and at his hesitant nod, continued. "Did you know Prince Endymion, too?"
"Yes," Averill said and she thought she detected a note of bitterness. "Darien. I knew him."
"You didn't like him, then?"
"Of course I did. I loved him. It's kind of hard not to love your own little brother, even when he loves making himself an annoying little twit," Averill replied and Usagi's heart sped up.
"Brother?" she choked out in disbelief. "Then you…"
"Prince Kenrick, at your service," Averill said, bowing his head, and when he looked up there was a familiar sparkle in his eyes. "Known more commonly as Averill, by yourself and others close to me. I guess I forgot to mention that part."
His explanation made sense, because Azurite would obviously know him if he had been his protector, but somehow she wasn't willing to believe. It made everything more complicated. She had been attracted to Mamoru's brother? Not good. The best way to deal was to deny everything.
"You don't look anything alike," Usagi said stubbornly, conveniently forgetting his 'close to me' remark.
"We both got opposite traits. I have Mother's hair and Father's eyes, and Darien has Father's hair and Mother's eyes. But otherwise, can't you see a resemblance?" Usagi could, but would never have admitted it.
"You said he was your younger brother. How old are you?"
"Older than you could possibly comprehend," he said, and she didn't doubt him. "Earlier, when you said I don't look like my brother, how would you know? Do you know him in this life?" Usagi swallowed. Somehow, she didn't want him to know that, yes, she knew his brother, and more than that, he was the love of her life.
"No," she lied, ashamed at herself. "I just vaguely remember him."
"So you remember your life in the Moon Kingdom, but you don't remember me?" Averill asked, looking amused.
"I don't remember much at all. Just a few scenes. Hardly anything, really." She flushed and couldn't meet his eyes. Averill looked at her closely.
"What do you remember?"
"Well…" she hesitated. "I remember my mother. And the night before the final battle, there was a ball. Mamo… Darien was there. Were you?"
"I had other business to attend to," he said quickly. "I was, at that point, about to be crowned King of Earth, since our parents had recently passed away. I felt like Atlas, with the universe on my shoulders. It wasn't a good time for me." Usagi surprised herself by taking his hand, for he was looking distressed.
"It wasn't a good time for any of us," she assured him. "I remember your brother giving me a locket before he left to fight…" She stopped as feelings from that day came back to her. The worry she felt inside, the heaviness of knowing she might never see him again. She had kissed him goodbye, tears streaming down her cheeks, and then he was gone.
She had to remind herself that it was in the past. Mamoru was alive. She didn't know where he was, who he was with or what he was doing at that moment, but he was alive and well. As if that helped.
"I'm sorry," Averill said, giving her hand an affectionate squeeze. "That must have been hard. You and Darien were such good friends."
"Good friends?" she asked in surprise. They had been more than good friends… hadn't they?
"Of course," Averill said and gave her a strange look. "Why is this surprising? Did you think you were enemies? You may have fought most of the time, but you didn't hate each other. Not even close."
"No, I didn't think that," Usagi said and looked at him. "And where did you fit in? Were we good friends, too?" Something changed in his face. His green eyes lost their sparkle and his head lowered. She drew in her breath. Was Averill nervous? Couldn't be.
"Usagi, don't you know?" he whispered, and she shook her head, not having a clue what he was about to say. "True, you were my best friend," he started, "and my pillar of strength, my only light. Usagi." He paused and licked his lips. "I loved you more than anything. Haven't you guessed that?"
Suddenly, Usagi was more aware of his hand in hers than ever. Her skin was tingling where he touched and she couldn't speak. No, she hadn't known, hadn't even wondered, and wasn't sure how to ask what she needed.
"Did I…" She couldn't quite say the words and substituted. "Did I return your feelings?" Her heart pounded and she felt dizzy as he gazed into her eyes, searching for any sign that she remembered.
"We were engaged," he said as if that explained it all. Usagi shook her head. No. It couldn't be. She had always been with Mamoru, always loved him…
But if that was true, why was she responding this way to Averill? She couldn't breathe with him so close and her chest ached with wanting… wanting something so badly she could hardly see straight.
"We were in love," he added, thinking she still didn't understand, but she did. She believed him. When he reached out a hand to trace her cheek with the gentlest touch, nothing existed in the world but him. And as she closed her eyes, the feeling came back. She wanted him to kiss her. Like before… the way no one had kissed her or made her feel since.
He did. She was so surprised when she felt his warm lips against hers that her eyes flew open, but she immediately relaxed in his embrace and kissed him back with more passion than she knew she had. It was so natural; they flowed together as if meant for each other, two stars pasted together in eternity.
She knew that this was the secret of her past. Here was her destiny. Averill. Always Averill. She was finally complete.